Joined: 13 Jul 2006Posts: 2195Location: On the sunny side of the street

Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 6:48 pm Post subject: Aug. 30: The Ball 17

Good save!

[Actually, I'm wondering who invited them. Earlier strips said nothing about who put them on the guest list, just that they were invited. And that they RSVP-ed. And asked about clowns.]_________________WARNING: Microwave musclebear detection devices in use on these premises!

I was wondering how he was going to handle this without either losing face or having to "deal with" Lily. Pretty classy response. You got to admit, he's got both style, and Vetinari-levels of planning for seemingly any situation.

No face lost. Psychologically speaking, it was a good move. They are children who obviously didn't understand the rules. Nobody would think they were intentionally disrespecting the devil. He might have invited them specifically to be wild cards. Everyone at the party knows how powerful and ruthless the D-man can be when he wants his way but someone who is always ruthless is also predictable. Predictable people can be manipulated. This simple show of benevolence might have various effects on different people. It is a subtle way of saying that those people who the devil see's with favor will be treated well. It might loosen up the crowd and cause them to talk more openly. Happy people always spill more secrets than scared people. The more calculating people will spend the night wondering what new angle the devil is playing and be extra cautious to avoid falling into a trap, which will coincidently keep their own scheming to a minimum. Finally it shows that he has so much power that he doesn't need to concern himself with convincing other people that he has power.

Also we still don't know his long term goal is for this party. Remember when he told Blue that he needed generals for the upcoming war? This could simply be the first step in a long term plan. Meaning he might not even care about this part._________________Drones are people too.

I'm torn. On the one hand I want D-Man to pull a whole "Lily *cough* I mean Lil' E, I am your father." but on the other hand, looking at all these asshats, I can imagine the huge target that would paint on Lily's back. Especially with his newly Lethe'd sensibilities.

D-man did not come out and say, "This is my son." But he made it obvious that this was someone who didn't have to kneel. Everyone else may not know exactly what is going on, but the immediate serving of more Hors d'oeuvres shows they know that Lily, child that he is, is someone to whom they should show deference.

Usually at such high society events, everyone knows everyone else. Chancellors and CEO at least know *of* each other. Strange how no one batted an eyelash that these kids are invited to party at the devil's mansion or showed signs of curiosity or suspicion at these unknowns.

No face lost. Psychologically speaking, it was a good move. They are children who obviously didn't understand the rules. Nobody would think they were intentionally disrespecting the devil. He might have invited them specifically to be wild cards. Everyone at the party knows how powerful and ruthless the D-man can be when he wants his way but someone who is always ruthless is also predictable. Predictable people can be manipulated. This simple show of benevolence might have various effects on different people. It is a subtle way of saying that those people who the devil see's with favor will be treated well. It might loosen up the crowd and cause them to talk more openly. Happy people always spill more secrets than scared people. The more calculating people will spend the night wondering what new angle the devil is playing and be extra cautious to avoid falling into a trap, which will coincidently keep their own scheming to a minimum. Finally it shows that he has so much power that he doesn't need to concern himself with convincing other people that he has power.

Also we still don't know his long term goal is for this party. Remember when he told Blue that he needed generals for the upcoming war? This could simply be the first step in a long term plan. Meaning he might not even care about this part.